Fehmi Keçe

Abstract Micro-embolic signals (MES) on transcranial Doppler ultrasound are associated with asymptomatic cerebral embolism in patients undergoing atrial fibrillation ablation. We studied the association between coagulation markers and MES during PVAC-Gold ablation. Early changes in an acute phase marker (fibrinogen) and von Willebrand factor (endothelial damage) as a result activation of the fibrinolytic pathway (elevated D-dimer) were associated with MES during PVAC-Gold ablation. Analysis of these markers to screen patients for cerebral ischemia may be useful. Further research is needed to explore the relationship between the origin of MES and coagulation activation.